Collegiate Awards
Mortar Board is proud to honor chapters for the excellence they exhibit throughout the year. All chapters are encouraged to nominate themselves for higher honors such as the Project Excellence Awards, the Gold Torch Awards, Freeman and Fox Most Improved Chapter Award, DEI&B Award, our highest honor - the Ruth Weimer Mount Chapter Excellence Award, and the new Outstanding Achievement Awards.
Nominations for all awards are due on or before May 15.
Ruth Weimer Mount
Chapter Excellence Award
The Ruth Weimer Mount Chapter Excellence Award is the highest honor given to any chapter. This award is given to the chapter who demonstrated excellence in chapter operations, advising, visibility, communications and participation.
Recipients
- 2022 – Purdue University
- 2021 – University of San Diego
- 2020 – San Diego State University
- 2019 – University of Washington
- 2018 – Texas Tech University
- 2017 – Texas Wesleyan University
- 2016 – The University of Alabama
- 2015 – Kansas State University
- 2014 – University of Nebraska at Kearney and Purdue University
- 2013 – The Ohio State University
- 2012 – San Diego State University
- 2011 – University of California, Los Angeles
- 2010 – Hope College
- 2009 – University of Washington
- 2008 – University of Wyoming
- 2007 – University of Nebraska – Lincoln
- 2006 – University of San Diego
- 2005 – Oklahoma State University
- 2004 – Kansas State University
- 2003 – San Diego State University
- 2002 – Purdue University
Freeman and Fox Most Improved Chapter
Encouraging chapters to honor tradition while embracing change was the inspiration that led the mother-daughter team of Dr. Mabel Freeman (The Ohio State University, 1965) and Dr. Kirsten Freeman Fox (Ohio State, 1996) to create the Freeman and Fox Chapter Revitalization Fund in the Mortar Board National Foundation. The fund supports chapters who are developing their programming and increasing their presence on campus. The Freeman and Fox Most Improved Chapter receives a monetary award from the endowment that Mabel and Kirsten created. The award is given annually.
Recipients
- 2022 – University of Mississippi
- 2021 – Case Western Reserve University
- 2020 – University of California, Los Angeles and Chapman University
- 2019 – Wichita State University
- 2018 – Illinois State University
- 2017 – Oklahoma Baptist University
- 2016 – University of Mary Washington
- 2015 – Beloit College
- 2014 – Lawrence University
- 2013 – Mississippi College and The University of South Dakota
- 2012 – The University of Findlay and Louisiana State University
- 2011 – University of South Carolina
- 2010 – University of Utah
- 2009 – Cornell College
- 2008 – Drury University and Oklahoma Baptist University
- 2007 – University of Colorado
- 2006 – William Jewell College
- 2005 – University of South Alabama
- 2004 – Northern Arizona University
- 2003 – Indiana State University
- 2002 – Texas Tech University
- 2001 – Westminster College
DEI&B Award
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belong (DEI&B) Awards was first awarded in 2022. The DEI&B award recognizes outstanding efforts/successes by chapters on projects and initiatives that focus on the tenets of diversity, equity, and inclusion with an outcome of belonging. A chapter may apply or be nominated by their Section Coordinator; new this year – chapters apply on the Chapter Annual Report.
Recipients
2022
Purdue University – Purdue University Mortar Board’s 2022 Leadership Conference on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Lyon College – Nacho Memorial Toys and Food Drive
Kansas State University – Strive as a chapter to be a beacon of inclusivity at K-State
Project Excellence Award
Project Excellence Awards recognize outstanding chapter projects with high member participation. Chapters must apply or be nominated to receive this award. In 2022, 8 chapters were recognized for 20 projects. A chapter may apply or be nominated by their Section Coordinator; new this year – chapters apply on the Chapter Annual Report.
2022 recipients
- Kansas State University
Student Org. Leadership Summit, Kansas Beats the Virus - Lyon College
Student Creative Arts Research Forum, Earth Day Initiatives, Nacho Memorial Toys and Food Drive - The Ohio State University
Reading is Leading - Purdue University
Purdue Mortar Board Leadership Conference - San Diego State University
- Philanthropy, Active/Alumni Involvement, Mortar Board Scholarships, 32nd Annual Faculty Staff Appreciation Dinner, SDSU Daily Planner and Calendar Sale
- University of San Diego
Self-Care and Mental Health Social Events, STRIVE, Last Lecture Series, Faculty and Staff Appreciation, Carson STEAM Family Nights - University of South Alabama
Top Peer, Top Prof, School Supplies Drive - Texas Tech University
Bark in the Park
2021 recipients
- Carleton College
Community Book Drive - Chapman University
Read-a-Thon and Book Drive - Endicott College
Beautiful Difference Initiative - Kansas State University
Mortar Board Helpful Tips to Succeed in Online Classes - Lyon College
SCARF during pandemic
Pocket Hand Sanitizer Distribution - University of North Dakota
Turkey Basket Drive - The Ohio State University
Last Lecture Series with Vice President for Student Life Melissa Shivers
Faculty and Staff Reception - University of San Diego
Senior Celebration
Fall and Spring Alumni Engagement Initiative
Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Initiative
Faculty Appreciation Dinner
Linda Vista Engagement Initiative - San Diego State University
Daily Planner and Calendar of Events
31st Annual Faculty Staff Appreciation Event Mortar Board scholarships
Active/Alumni Involvement
CCMB Collaborative
Outstanding Achievement Award – New This Year!
This year, we challenged our chapters to think differently about success to focus on areas of achievement that exist outside of programmatic accomplishments. These awards highlight great strides made toward increasing chapter health and visibility on campus. Areas include recruitment & selection; officer/advisor transition, chapter reactivation, campus visibility, and chapter communications. Chapters apply on the Chapter Annual Report.
Gold Torch Award
The Gold Torch Award honors chapters that exemplify scholarship, leadership and service. They are dedicated to Mortar Board, its purpose and its Ideals. These chapters are active on their campus in ways that improve the quality of student life. In 2022, 13 chapters received the Gold Torch Award. A chapter may apply or be nominated by their Section Coordinator; new this year – chapters apply on the Chapter Annual Report.
2022 recipients
- Section 3 – Mid-Atlantic
- College of William and Mary
Longwood University - Section 5 – Floribama
- The University of Alabama
University of South Alabama - Section 6 – South
- Lyon College
University of Mississippi - Section 8 – Southern Ohio
- The Ohio State University
- Section 9 – Northern Ohio
- Ohio Northern University
- Section 11 – Indiana
- Purdue University
- Section 12 – Illinois
- Illinois State University
- Section 14 – Northern Great Plains
- University of North Dakota
- Section 15 – Southern Great Plains
- Kansas State University
- Section 17 – Texas
- Texas Tech University
2021 recipients
- Section 4 – Southeast
Agnes Scott College
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Salem College - Section 5 – Floribama
The University of Alabama
University of South Alabama - Section 6 – South
Lyon College - Section 7 – Tennessee Valley
University of Louisville - Section 8 – Southern Ohio
The Ohio State University - Section 9 – Northern Ohio
Case Western Reserve University
Ohio Northern University - Section 11 – Indiana
Purdue University - Section 12 – Illinois
Illinois State University - Section 14 – Northern Great Plains
The University of Nebraska – Lincoln
University of North Dakota - Section 15 – Southern Great Plains
Kansas State University
University of Missouri – Columbia - Section 17 – Texas
Texas Tech University - Section 18 – Southwest
The University of New Mexico - Section 19 – Rocky Mountain
University of Wyoming - Section 21 – West
University of California, Los Angeles
Chapman University
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
University of San Diego
San Diego State University
Silver Torch Award
All chapters are able to achieve the Silver Torch. This award signifies the chapter met all standards.
2022 recipients
- Section 2 – Pennsylvania
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Section 3 – Mid Atlantic
- Hood College
- Section 4 – Southeast
- Agnes Scott College
Salem College - Section 7 – Tennessee Valley
- Rhodes College
- Section 8 – Southern Ohio
Ohio Wesleyan University
Xavier University - Section 9 – Northern Ohio
- The University of Toledo
- Section 10 – Michigan
- Hope College
- Section 11 – Indiana
- Ball State University
Hanover College - Section 12 – Illinois
- Augustana College
- Section 13 – Upper Midwest
- Lawrence University
University of Minnesota, Duluth - Section 14 – Northern Great Plains
- The University of Nebraska, Lincoln
University of Nebraska at Kearney
University of North Dakota - Section 15 – Southern Great Plains
- Wichita State University
William Jewell College - Section 17 – Texas
- Southern Methodist University
Texas Tech University - Section 18 – Southwest
- The University of New Mexico
University of Arizona - Section 19 – Rocky Mountain
- University of Montana
- Section 20 – Pacific Northwest
- University of the Pacific
- Section 21 – West
- University of California, Los Angeles
University of San Diego
2021 recipients
- Section 1 – Northeast
Western New England University - Section 2 – Pennsylvania
Bucknell University
Carnegie Mellon University - Section 3 – Mid Atlantic
College of William and Mary
Hood College
Longwood University
University of Mary Washington
West Virginia University - Section 4 – Southeast
Converse College - Section 5 – Floribama
Florida State University - Section 6 – South
Alcorn State University
University of Mississippi - Section 7 – Tennessee Valley
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
University of Tennessee, Knoxville - Section 8 – Southern Ohio
Denison University
University of Cincinnati - Section 10 – Michigan
Adrian College
Albion College
Central Michigan University
Hope College - Section 12 – Illinois
Augustana College - Section 13 – Upper Midwest
Beloit College
Carleton College
Lawrence University - Section 14 – Northern Great Plains
The University of South Dakota - Section 15 – Southern Great Plains
The University of Kansas
William Jewell College - Section 16 – Central
Oklahoma Baptist University - Section 17 – Texas
Southern Methodist University - Section 19 – Rocky Mountain
Colorado State University - Section 20 – Pacific Northwest
University of Puget Sound
University of the Pacific
University of Washington
Excellence in Advising Award
The Excellence in Advising Awards are given to Mortar Board chapter advisors who have demonstrated a commitment to the purpose of Mortar Board and who have gone above and beyond in their work with a collegiate chapter.
Starlington Prize
The Starlington Prize for Extraordinary Mortar Board Membership is awarded each year to nominees who have proven that they understand the purpose of Mortar Board, are dedicated to their chapter and have internalized the true obligation of membership. Any member may nominate another member for this prize.